ECOTHERAPY (This a more complex version)

Throughout history, nature has provided a home for human beings. Humans have been connected with nature and lived in nature in peace. However, the development of technology and industry has had a huge impact on peoples’ life styles. Accordingly, people started to construct cities to live in better conditions but they didn’t notice that they had built a wall between themselves and nature. In the modern world, people spend a majority of their time  in front of a computer or at work, which leads to stress and tension. Today, people prefer cities more than ever and this separates them from nature. Nevertheless, no one can reject the fact that humans are a part of nature. The latest research proves that nature has a significant effect on humans .Investigators demonstrate that harmonizing with nature has a therapeutic influence on patients. The observation of researchers shows that  nature can help patients while they are trying to recover . This process of connecting with nature is called ecotherapy or green therapy. Ecotherapy can be described as a technique which includes a wide range of activities that aim to promote mental and physical well-being.

There are a few techniques that enable people to connect with nature in order to enhance their well-being. One is nature meditation: This meditation provides people with a place where they can communicate with nature and other people who take part in meditation . Individuals can see what other patients are struggling with and feeling, consequently, people may learn from others' experiences and can use them  to cope with their own problems. In addition, this process can be an opportunity for people who suffer from loneliness because they can make friends from their therapy groups. This far from all though.

Another technique  to help people to struggle with problems with  the help of nature is the use of plants and garden-related activities. Garden related activities include digging the soil and planting seeds. In brief, these activities connect  individuals with soil and plants. This technique gives individuals an opportunity to feel more valuable. Moreover research shows that digging the soil reduces stress and makes people feel calm. There is, in other words, a lot to say for the rural lifestyle.

A third technique is animal assisted therapy:  Animals have a significant effect on people even though there is no evidence to prove that. However, recent research points out that playing with or petting an animal decreases the heart rate and reduces stress. Furthermore, patients can ignore their illness thanks to the animals. Nowadays there are specially trained dogs or cats that are brought into hospitals to help calm patients.

One important point one needs to be aware of is that nature therapy doesn’t mean walking in a natural place or doing an activity in a natural place. Merely a glimpse of nature such as a photograph of the coast or a garden that can be seen from a window reduces stress and helps patients to boost their mood. Attaining happiness and relaxing may be as simple as hanging the right pictures or posters on the wall or having large windows opening on to parks or well kept terrace gardens. There is a lot one can do even in big metropolises.

There are a large number of benefits of ecotherapy. Ecotherapy provides individuals with an opportunity to explore their relationships with the environment and other people, thanks to the activities that they can practice with a social group or even alone. For instance, an old person may notice the importance of old trees while he is walking in a forest, ultimately, he can cope with his feelings of worthlessness. A lonely person may benefit from working in an allotment and chatting to others who own plots.

Secondly, outdoor activities have significant effects on the brain. For example, being in nature promotes creativity and concentration. Our minds process less information when we are digging the  soil or even looking at a photograph of nature. Accordingly, nature clarifies our minds and makes it easy to concentrate.Moreover, natural environments stimulate curiosity which can promote learning abilities and creativity.As you know many  artists  are inspired by nature.

In conclusion, nature is our home and being connected with nature improves peoples’ physical and mental health. If we want to boost our overall mood, outdoor activities can provide us with opportunities which can reduce stress and depression. Despite these benefits of nature, people are becoming more isolated  from nature day by day because of the popularity of the urban life style but nature is not only our home  but also our children’s so we should learn from nature and protect it.